Week in Westminster, 18th-21st December 2017

This week in the House of Lords bishops spoke in debates about increasing support for those facing financial exclusion, the EU Council Statement, post-Brexit trade and reducing the size of the House of Lords. They asked questions about support available to the homeless, an imprisoned Christian convert in Iran, advice for customers about switching energy providers, and anti-democratic forces in Syria. In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a written question about written answer statistics and asked her own question about the new Patterson Inquiry led by the Bishop of Norwich. Parliament rose for the Christmas recess, and will return in January.The Bishop of Leeds was on duty in the Lords throughout the week, reading prayers at the start of each sitting day.

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about the support available for Local Authorities to help those who are homeless. He also received a written answer about a Christian convert and missionary imprisoned in Iran.